How to Fix “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11

Published On - March 27, 2023 by Deepika Singh |

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Outlook is one of the most widely used email clients worldwide, used by both individuals and organizations. Outlook stores its data in two types of files: PST (Personal Storage Table) and OST (Offline Storage Table). PST files store data on the server, while OST files store data locally on your computer. If you encounter an error while opening an OST file, it can be frustrating and affect your productivity. In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons behind the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11 and suggest ways to fix it.

Reasons Behind OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error

There can be various reasons for the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11, including:

• Corruption in the OST File: If there is any damage or corruption in the OST file, you may encounter an error while opening it in Outlook.
• Improper Shutdown: If your computer shuts down abruptly while Outlook is running, it can lead to corruption in the OST file, resulting in the error.
• Synchronization Issues: If there are synchronization issues between the OST file and the Exchange Server, it can result in the error.
• Antivirus Software: Sometimes, antivirus software installed on your computer can interfere with the functioning of Outlook, leading to the error.

Manual Methods to Fix OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error

Here are some manual methods you can try to fix the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11:

1. Check for Connectivity Issues: Ensure that your computer is connected to the internet, and there are no connectivity issues with the Exchange Server.
2. Repair OST File: You can try repairing the OST file using the inbuilt scanpst.exe tool in Outlook. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Firstly, close Outlook.
   2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the OST file is stored.
   3. Right-click on the OST file and select Properties.
   4. In the Properties window, select the General tab and click on the Advanced button.
   5. In the Advanced Attributes window, uncheck the “Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties” option and click OK.
   6. Following, open the Control Panel and go to Programs and Features.
   7. Now make a right-click on the Microsoft Office installation and select Change.
   8. In the Microsoft Office Setup window, select Repair and click Continue.
   9. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the OST file.
3. Create a New Outlook Profile: If the above methods do not work, you can create a new Outlook profile and try opening the OST file in the new profile. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Close Outlook.
   2. Secondly, open the Control Panel and go to Mail.
   3. In the Mail Setup window, click on the Show Profiles button.
   4. Click on Add to create a new profile.
   5. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the new profile.
   6. Once the new profile is set up, open Outlook and try opening the OST file in the new profile.

Loopholes of Manual Methods

While the above methods can be effective in fixing the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11, there are some loopholes that you should be aware of:

• Time-Consuming: The manual methods can be time-consuming, and you may need to spend a considerable amount of time troubleshooting the error.
• Limited Success Rate: The success rate of the manual methods is limited, and they may not work in some cases.
• Technical Expertise: The manual methods may require technical expertise, and if you are not familiar with the Outlook settings, it can be challenging to follow the steps correctly.
• Risk of Data Loss: Repairing the OST file or creating a new profile can lead to data loss, and you may lose important emails, contacts, or calendar entries.

In such cases, it is recommended to use a third-party tool to fix the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11.

Professional tool to Fix OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error

There are several third-party tools available in the market that can fix the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11. These tools are designed to scan and repair the corrupt OST file and convert OST to PST file in working format. One such tool is the Regain OST file recovery tool.

Features of Regain Outlook OST recovery tool

The software is a powerful tool that can fix the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11 and recover all the data stored in the OST file. Here are some of the features of the tool:

• The tool has a simple and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for even non-technical users to use the tool.
• Also, the tool can quickly scan the corrupt OST file and repair it, without the risk of data loss.
• Once the scanning and repairing process is complete, the tool allows you to preview the recovered data before saving it.
• You can save the recovered data in various formats, including PST, MSG, EML, HTML, RTF, and PDF.
• The tool can handle large OST files, making it suitable for organizations with a large number of email accounts.

Steps to Use Regain Outlook OST recovery tool

Here are the steps to use Regain Outlook OST recovery tool to fix the “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” in Windows 10/11:

• Firstly, download and install Regain OST Recovery tool on your computer.

• Secondly, launch the tool and add the corrupt OST file that you want to repair.

• Once the scanning process is complete, the tool will display a preview of the recovered data.

• Following, select the data that you want to save and click on the Export button.

• Choose the format and folder in which you want to save the data.

• Lastly, click on the OK button to save the data.

Conclusion

The “OST File Cannot be Opened Outlook Error” can be frustrating, but there are various ways to fix it. While manual methods can be effective, they have their limitations. Also, it is recommended to use a third-party tool like Regain Outlook OST recovery tool to fix the error efficiently. The tool has several features that make it suitable for both individuals and organizations. Also, the tool’s simple user interface makes it easy to use, even for non-technical users.